11th annual Springfield Pride Festival returns this weekend | Events & Things to Do

Equality Springfield will hold the 11th annual Springfield Pride Festival in downtown Springfield on Saturday, June 27. The event runs from noon to 4 p.m., and admission is free.

This year’s lineup includes four drag shows with 10 performers, 54 vendors and four food trucks.

The State Theater, at 19 S. Fountain Ave., will stay open all afternoon as a place for visitors to cool off and buy a specialty Pride cocktail. It will also host two of the drag shows indoors, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Developmental Disabilities of Clark County is bringing its Mobile Changing Unit to the event as well, which will provide a fully accessible changing restroom.

The weekend starts with a kickoff party beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 26, at O’Connors Irish Pub, 2200 N. Limestone St., Springfield. After the festival wraps up on Saturday, an afterparty takes over Mother Stewart’s Brewing Co., 102 W. Columbia St., at 8 p.m.

Organizers have always wanted the festival to work for every age, and that remains a priority. “Equality Springfield prides itself on making Pride inclusive to all age groups,” said Caleb Thurman, secretary of Equality Springfield. “Drag performers are asked to keep their acts free of profanity and suitable for everyone. The Springfield Museum of Art is also sponsoring a children’s table this year, with activities for kids of all ages.”

Safety is also a priority for Equality Springfield. Police and EMS will be on site during the event, and every volunteer is trained to handle an emergency. This year, volunteers will wear gray shirts and the leadership team will wear red, making it easy for anyone needing assistance to spot them.

The festival has grown since its inception 11 years ago. Thurman pointed to the community itself as the reason the festival keeps growing. “The community has definitely perpetuated its growth by still showing up,” he said. He noted that opinions tend to shift as administrations change in office, yet attendance has held steady year after year.

The growth of the event continues despite what Thurman said “is a change in the current political climate,” and the group does not take its supporters for granted. “Without the Springfield community and its blessing, there would be no Equality Springfield,” he said.

Equality Springfield works to build an inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community through education, advocacy and social connections. After Pride, the group welcomes new members, holds monthly meetings and plans other events throughout the year. “It’s a good way to find your community and feel safe being who you are,” Thurman said.

The festival is meant to be a beginning rather than a single afternoon. Pride has always been about inclusivity and acceptance, and this year’s event will be no different.

For more information about the Springfield Pride Festival and Equality Springfield, visit equalityspringfield.org.